31st December 2024: Veganuary – the global campaign to try vegan for January and beyond – is delighted to welcome Bath fitness expert Emma Doherty (aka social media star Emma Fit UK) as one of our 2025 participants. Previous Veganuary participants include rock legend Brian May, TV presenter Jasmine Harman, wildlife presenter Chris Packham, ‘dragon’ Deborah Meaden, Eastender’s Kellie Bright and actor Peter Egan, all of whom continue to support the charity.
Emma is an online coach who helps women improve their health and wellbeing, transform their confidence and build sustainable habits. After trying every fad and quick-fix diet in the book, Emma started Empower Online Coaching to show that fitness should be about loving your body, not hating it, and looking after yourself physically and mentally. Her positive approach has resonated with a huge audience on social media, and she now has a following of nearly half a million between Instagram and TikTok.
Speaking about her decision to take part in Veganuary this January, Emma says:
“I’m so excited to be taking part in Veganuary 2025! The decision to explore a vegan diet took place earlier in December. A pivotal moment happened while I was in Spain, eating at a restaurant. In the corner of the room was a tiny, overcrowded fish tank filled with lobsters crammed into a space far too small for them. The sight honestly horrified me, and for the first time, it made me think deeply about the emotions and suffering animals endure in such conditions. I am, and always have been, a huge lover of animals – but that particular experience made me feel different about my food choices on a deeply personal level.
As a health and nutrition coach, I also see how so many of my clients thrive on plant-based diets without restriction. I’ve now developed hundreds of delicious vegan recipes for my app (which I should cook more often for myself)! So, I have no excuse not to join Veganuary! I’m really excited to create and share more plant-based recipes online. I hope my participation can encourage others to consider taking this step, even if just for 31 days; to explore all the benefits for animals, the environment, and their own well-being.”
An image of Emma can be downloaded here.
Emma’s Instagram account can be viewed here.
Emma joins a growing list of athletes encouraging people to take part in Veganuary, including Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant who won gold in Paris this summer 18 months after taking part in Veganuary and maintaining a plant-based diet afterwards. Professional basketball player Deandre Jordan of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets; former professional Basketball player and current NBA coach Joseph Blair; former professional cricket player and international coach Jason Gillespie; mountaineer Kuntal Josher; former professional racing driver Leilani Münter; and German strongman Patrick Baboumian are also Veganuary supporters.
Notes to Editor
Veganuary is free to join, and people can take part at veganuary.com to receive our Celebrity eCookbook, the Official Veganuary Starter Kit and 31 daily emails packed with nutritional info, delicious recipes, meal plans and helpful advice.
Since Veganuary launched its first pledge in January 2014 – millions of people, coming from almost every country in the world, have taken part. From humble beginnings on a kitchen table in Yorkshire, there are now official Veganuary campaigns in the UK, US, Germany, Chile, Argentina, India, Spain, Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Canada. It has truly become a global phenomenon.
Contact
Toni Vernelli, International Head of Policy and Communications, Veganuary
T: 07505 866 548
